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We have a number of brown striped marsh frogs in our garden. I love the bok-bok sound the males make at night. Currently they are spawning in a large IKEA fruit bowl filled with floating hyacinth. They probably would appreciate a pond. Perhaps I should ask santa...

Susan7, they are calling in our creek day and night at this time of year. Thanks for the link, I've had a good look at that site and know I'll find it useful.

The Bush Stonecurlews have been feeding on the little Northern Dwarf Treefrogs and giving them to their chick. This morning I almost walked on the young one but both parents came at me with their wings out, displaying large white spots and hissing at me.
Alan

Talking of frogs Alan, its been a good year down here on the coast for the whitelipped giant green tree frog. Three fairly big ones in the house yesterday, and a baby in our breakfast room, which is semi-outdoors.

Sunbirds finished building their amazing nest in carport, but have deserted it, assume that's because of lurking butcher birds. Such a shame, but what can you do?

Pat, there is often a gap between the end of building and the commencement of laying. My theory is that nest building is a very obvious activity which alerts potential predators. By staying away for a week or so the predators forget and then egg laying and incubation is a fairly quiet activity.

There is a Pied Monarch on a nest at the Curtain Figtree at the moment. The male does most of the daytime sitting. He has a lovely blue ring of skin around his eye. The nest is the the hanging fruit of a fishtail wait-a-while and is decorated with pale lichens. In that position they will be safe from all but aerial predators and idiot tourists.

Don't know about these butcher birds, there was one in the carport when the sunbirds were finishing their nest, haven't seen them (nesting sunbirds) since. But the butcher birds are getting increasingly bold, and are always about, I don't encourage them by feeding but now they've started marching into house. And one took exception to some cuttings we were trying to start off in garden, just boldy strode up while we were close by and flung them out in what appeared to be total disgust. I'd really rather have the sunbirds!!!

Black Butcherbirds in my experience are not as cheeky as other species but I guess there are many variables including the people they come into contact with as they move around their territories. I have just checked above and find that there is totally an assumption on my part that they are the Black Butcherbirds. They may be some other species.

White-lipped Treefrogs cannot breed up here in the mountains. Without a cold winter they can hang on for years if they are transported up in pot plants and such like. We had one here for a while but it could not stand the severe winter we had this year. [Must have been 10 frosts!]